Florida school massacre panel recommends arming teachers
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The panel investigating the Florida high school massacre recommended Wednesday that teachers who volunteer and undergo extensive background checks and training be allowed to carry concealed guns on campus to stop future shootings.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission voted 13-1 to recommend the Legislature allow the arming of teachers, saying it’s not enough to have one or two police officers or armed guards on campus. Florida law adopted after the Feb. 14 shooting that left 17 dead allows districts to arm non-teaching staff members such as principals, librarians and custodians — 13 of the 67 districts do, mostly in rural parts of the state.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the commission’s chairman, pushed the measure at the Tallahassee meeting. He said most deaths in school shootings happen within the first few minutes, before officers on and off campus can respond. He said suspect Nikolas Cruz stopped to reload his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle five times, all of which would have been opportunities for an armed teacher to shoot him.
“We have to give people a fighting chance, we have to give them an opportunity to protect themselves,” Gualtieri said. He said there aren’t enough officers or money to hire one for every school, but even then officers need backup. “One good guy with a gun on campus is not enough.”
The state teachers union and PTA have previously expressed opposition, saying teachers are hired to educate, not be police officers.
Commissioner Max Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex died in the massacre, cast the lone vote against the motion. He said the state should focus on hiring more police officers for campuses and allowing non-teaching staff to carry guns.
“We do need more good guys with a gun on campus — nobody understands that and wishes we had more at Marjory Stoneman Douglas than myself,” Schachter said. But arming teachers “creates a host of problems.” The father and wife of other victims, who are not on the commission, also spoke against arming teachers.
After the shooting, Florida law was changed to allow school districts to train and arm employees other than teachers except those who are former or current police officers, current members of the military or Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructors.
Currently, teachers in 28 states can carry firearms, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center, a conservative nonprofit organization. District approval is required in most states and restrictions and training requirements vary.
The 15-member commission, which has been meeting periodically since April, will present a report to Gov. Rick Scott, incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature by Jan. 1.
The commission includes law enforcement, education and mental health professionals, a legislator and the fathers of two slain students.
Also Wednesday, a judge rejected former Stoneman Douglas campus deputy Scot Peterson’s contention that he had no obligation to confront Cruz.
Refusing to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the parent of a victim, Broward Circuit Judge Patti Englander Henning found after a hearing that Peterson did have a duty to protect those inside the school. Video and other evidence shows Peterson, the only armed officer at the school, remained outside while shots rang out.
The negligence lawsuit was filed by Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was killed. Pollack said it made no sense for Peterson’s attorneys to argue that a sworn law enforcement officer with a badge and a gun had no requirement to go inside.
“Then what is he doing there?” Pollack said after the ruling. “He had a duty. I’m not going to let this go. My daughter, her death is not going to be in vain.”
Peterson attorney Michael Piper said he understands that people might be offended or outraged at his client’s defense, but he argued that as a matter of law, the deputy had no duty to confront the shooter. Peterson did not attend the hearing.
“There is no legal duty that can be found,” Piper said. “At its very worst, Scot Peterson is accused of being a coward. That does not equate to bad faith.”
The commission voted Wednesday to condemn Peterson’s actions, calling him “derelict” in his duties.
Cruz, a 20-year-old former Stoneman Douglas student, has pleaded not guilty, but his lawyers have said he would plead guilty in exchange for a life sentence. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/12/12/florida-school-massacre-panel-recommends-arming-teachers/
Mom says 1-year-old looked like he was ‘mauled by animal’ after daycare attack
PASCAGOULA, Miss. – A 1-year-old boy is recovering after his mother said he was attacked by another child at a Mississippi daycare.
WLOX reports that Letoye Sutter said it happened last week at a 24-hour daycare called Pooh and the Crew in Pascagoula.
Sutter told WLOX over the phone that the woman who was watching the children at the time stepped away to light a fireplace, and when she came back, Dakota Hudson was covered in blood and was screaming.
According to Sutter, one of the responding officers told her, “It looks like your son was mauled by an animal.”
The child was taken to an emergency room, and police were called to file a report. According to police reports, no more than five children are under the care of the daycare.
“It appears that everything they are doing is in compliance with the law and regulations of operating a daycare of that size,” said Capt. Doug Adams. “We have forwarded a report to DHS and also asked them to look into this.
The state Department of Health is investigating and confirms that the facility is not licensed and has not applied for a license. But it also said not all facilities need to be licensed, depending on the circumstances.
WLOX said it called the numbers listed for the daycare, but no one answered and messages were not returned.
6 arrested for allegedly beating, pouring scalding water on 3-year-old boy in NJ
NEWARK, N.J. — Six adults were arrested for allegedly beating a 3-year-old boy in their New Jersey home.
Patricia Gamarra, 62, Mary Buchan, 55, Patricia Buchan, 28, Bridget Buchan, 23, and Homey Searcy, also known as Omar Searcy, 39, were taken into custody, and face charges of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a 3-year-old child, police announced Wednesday.
The victim’s mother, Natacha Smith, 43, was also arrested on the same charges, said police.
All adults are accused of the systematic and coordinated beating of the child with a belt and fists and pouring scalding water on him as a form of punishment, according to authorities.
Police say the alleged suspects all live in the same Newark home.
They are scheduled to make their court appearance on Thursday.
‘Momo Challenge,’ a dangerous viral game, prompts warnings to parents
NEW JERSEY — A disturbing viral trend called the “Momo Challenge” centers around a creepy image of a woman. Children as young as 6 years old have reportedly been swept up into the challenge, which promises death to victims who don’t follow the orders of the character.
The Brick Township Board of Education, in New Jersey, sent home a warning letter stating, “the ‘Momo Challenge’ can be found on Facebook or through WhatsApp, and is disturbing in nature.” It starts out by challenging the receiver to perform small tasks and quickly “escalates to more serious violent acts and request photographs for proof.”
First-graders at Warren H. Wolf Elementary School, in Brick, have faced bullying and threats of violence because of “Momo,” the Asbury Park Press reports.
Other school officials have been reacting quickly.
This includes Corpus Christi Montessori School, in Texas, which compared the ordeal to “Slender Man” — the fictional horror character that inspired two 12-year-old girls to attack another girl, stabbing her 19 times in 2014. The victim survived.
In Colombia, a 12-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy killed themselves after participating in the challenge, the Daily Mail reports, citing local media.
The “game” starts when a person adds a phone number belonging to “Momo,” a woman with large eyes and a sharp grin. The participant is then sent various challenges before ultimately being told to kill themselves. If they do not, they are threatened with a curse, the Daily Mail reports.
The Brick Township letter offered the following takeaways for concerned parents: if your children already have social media accounts, you need to be talking to them about this, as well as smartly monitoring what’s happening on their pages.
Web sites such as the Child Mind Institute, Safe Search Kids and Parenting offer more information on monitoring children’s social media use.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/12/12/momo-challenge-a-dangerous-new-viral-game-prompts-warnings-to-parents/
Fast-food worker laced child’s burger with ecstasy
She took “happy” meals to a whole new level.
A fast-food worker in Texas was busted for lacing a 4-year-old’s hamburger with ecstasy that the poor boy thought was candy, according to reports.
The kid’s older sister found the pill between the buns of the Sonic Drive-In kids meal burger Thursday night in Taylor and told their parents, according to ABC 13.
“When she opened the wrapping, she noticed a pill. Being an 11-year-old, she asked her parents if this was candy,” Taylor Chief of Police Henry Fluck said, according to the local station.
Their parents took the meal to the police station, where a lab test revealed that it tested positive for MDMA, the drug’s active compound, according to the station.
Tanisha Dancer, 30 — who was allegedly caught with three more pills — was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and endangering a child, according to the report.
She was booked at the Williamson County Jail and has since been fired, according to FOX 8.
Restaurant employees Jonathan Roberson, 35, and Jose Molina, 22, were charged with possession of marijuana.
via: https://nypost.com/2018/12/10/fast-food-worker-laced-childs-burger-with-ecstasy-cops/
9-year-old kills self after racist taunts from class
A black 9-year-old girl in Alabama allegedly took her own life after facing relentless bullying and racism in class, according to reports.
McKenzie Adams’ relatives said she hanged herself Dec. 3 in her home in Linden, about 100 miles west of Montgomery, and was discovered by her grandmother, according to the Tuscaloosa News.
Since the start of the school year, the fourth-grader had been the target of bullying at US Jones Elementary School, where she was teased over her friendship with a white male classmate, according to her family.
Her aunt, Eddwina Harris, said the group of students taunted McKenzie by telling her to commit suicide.
“She was being bullied the entire school year, with words such as ‘kill yourself,’ ‘you think you’re white because you ride with that white boy,’ ‘you ugly,’ ‘black bitch,’ ‘just die,’” Harris told the newspaper.
Harris said she’s speaking out about her niece’s death because she wants to promote anti-bullying.
“There are so many voiceless kids,” Harris said. “God is opening great doors for justice for my niece.”
Woman charged after throwing baby twice during argument over Amazon purchases
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A woman faces charges after throwing an infant twice while fighting with her sister over purchases made on Amazon.
The Youngstown Police Department told WKBN they were called to a home on the 900 block of Dryden Avenue around 9 a.m. Saturday for reports of a fight.
When officers reportedly arrived on scene they found the grandmother holding the baby.
An argument had reportedly occurred between the woman’s two daughters.
Police said 32-year-old Erin Johnson was holding the infant during the argument and while she was frustrated, threw the child onto the couch, according to WKBN. She then reportedly picked up the baby and threw it a second time.
Police told the news outlet that “Johnson rambled about how she is blamed for everything” and that she is suffering from postpartum.
Johnson reportedly was too emotional to carry a conversation.
According to WKBN, Johnson has been charged with child endangering and the infant was transported to a local hospital. Information on the child’s condition is unknown at this time.
Police did not tell WKBN who the baby’s mother is.
High school football player accused of killing pregnant classmate and leaving her body in a dumpster
A 16-year-old high school football player is accused of killing a 17-year-old girl and leaving her body in a dumpster in Mishawaka, Indiana, police said.
St. Joseph County Metro Homicide named the victim as Breana Rouhselang, a junior at Mishawaka High School. Aaron Trejo, the 16-year-old accused of killing her, was on the school’s football team.
He told investigators that he killed Rouhselang because she waited so long to tell him she was pregnant with his child that it was too late to get an abortion. Authorities say Trejo stabbed Rouhselang, put a plastic bag over her and put her body in a restaurant dumpster in their hometown of Mishawaka, which is next to South Bend and about 80 miles east of Chicago.
Assistant Commander Lt. Alex Arendt told reporters that Rouhselang’s family had contacted the Mishawaka Police Department about 4:30 a.m. Sunday to report her missing after last seeing her at home around midnight.
“Upon their arrival and a search of the area they found evidence of a possible violent crime,” Arendt said.
Police continued to search the area for her and ultimately found her body in a dumpster behind a business, Arendt said.
“It was a location of opportunity to try to hide the victim, I would assume,” he said.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Fronk said the suspect had been preliminary charged with murder, and would be formally charged as an adult Monday. Trejo has no attorney on record.
Charges to be filed Monday
The Metro Homicide unit was called in to investigate and the 16-year-old was interviewed in connection with the crime, he said.
“At the end of this interview the decision for a preliminary charge of murder was made and he was ultimately transported to the St. Joseph County Jail.”
Arendt said that the victim and her alleged killer knew each other through their school football team and lived about seven blocks from each other.
“They do know each other through the high school. As far as the exact relationship, that is something that is still part of the investigation and when we can release further on that we will do so,” Arendt said.
He said an autopsy would be conducted in the coming days.
Community offers condolences
CNN affiliate WNDU reported that Rouhselang had been a cheerleader and softball player at Mishawaka High School. WNDU said her body was found behind Pasquale Rulli’s restaurant.
“Our condolences to the families involved in the tragedy that took place by our restaurant overnight. The Rulli family are upset that this took place in our neighborhood and are saddened for our Mishawaka city,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook.
Mishawaka High School released a statement Sunday afternoon on Rouhselang’s death, saying it was a terrible tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family members and friends who have been affected by this great loss. Our focus now is to offer all of the support possible to our staff and students,” the school said.
The school said it would be open Monday morning, with grief counselors available to students.
Boy, 3, shot an 8-month-old girl in her face in motel room
GALLUP, N.M. — A couple is facing charges after authorities say a 3-year-old shot an 8-month-old girl in the face while the couple was in a motel shower.
Police say Shayanne Nelson and Tyrell Bitsilly were at a motel Saturday in Gallup, New Mexico, when Nelson’s child found a gun and accidentally fired it, hitting the baby.
According to a criminal complaint, the 18-year-old Nelson says she didn’t know a gun was in the room and it may have been left by a prior occupant.
A witness told police he saw the 21-year-old Bitsilly wipe the gun after the shooting.
The baby was taken to a hospital. Her current condition is unknown.
Nelson and the Bitsilly are facing child abuse charges.
It was not known if either is represented by an attorney.
via: https://pix11.com/2018/12/10/police-boy-3-shot-an-8-month-old-girl-in-her-face-in-motel-room/
Columbia student caught harassing group of minorities proclaiming ‘white people are the best thing to ever happen to the world’ (VIDEO)
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS — In a racially charged rant posted on Twitter, a Columbia University sophomore is seen harassing and shouting white supremacist ideologies at a group of primarily minority students.
“We built modern civilization! White people are the best thing to ever happen to the world!” he said. “We built the modern world!”
The incident happened early Sunday morning outside of Butler Library on the Morningside Heights campus.
The students involved say the sophomore, identified by the University’s campus newspaper as Julian von Abele, had targeted them, having followed the group from a campus eatery to outside the library.
Video of the rant has now gone viral and is raising a lot of questions.
“I knew there were racists on campus, I just didn’t expect to meet one personally,” Blossom Maduafokwa told PIX11.
Maduafokwa and fellow Freshman Kwolanne Felix were among those harassed by von Abele.
While they did acknowledge a number of driving factors, including what they perceived as his being under the influence of alcohol, both students feel von Abele’s behavior is a byproduct of a curriculum at the university that tends to lean toward Western European superiority.
“I hope Columbia can take a step back and look in the mirror,” Felix said. “What are they doing on an institutional level to assure that there is a narrative outside of western European knowledge? [Are they] assuring students of color that they can actually see themselves in the curriculums?”
In a statement posted on their Twitter account, Columbia denounced the incident, assuring students and faculty that it’s under investigation.
Von Abelle did not immediately respond to our requests for comment.
The now-viral rant comes in wake of a number of other hate speech incidents that have occurred not only in New York but across the country.
Posters for a white supremacist group recently surfaced near the Columbia University campus, further escalating tensions.
In response to the incident, Columbia University will be holding what they’re calling an “open reflection space” Monday evening where students can be in community with each other and raise any concerns they may have.